The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) has issued a press release condemning the killing of what it called “dozens of pro-democracy demonstrators” by Egyptian security forces. According to the CAIR release:

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/27/13) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, today called on the Obama administration to forcefully condemn the killing of dozens of pro-democracy demonstrators by Egyptian security forces.

CAIR also urged the president use the leverage of taxpayer funds being sent to that nation’s military to push for a return to democracy.

In a statement following the mass killing of protesters, CAIR said:

‘We urge an end to the silence over the ongoing massacres of peaceful pro-democracy activists in Egypt by forces that receive billions of American taxpayer dollars.

‘We join with those in Egypt and in the international community who are condemning the violence, including Sheikh of Al-Azhar Ahmed al-Tayyeb, who said he ‘deplores and condemns the deaths of a number of martyrs who were victims of today’s events.’

‘Condemnations came from across the political spectrum, including from Mohamed ElBaradei, who strongly condemned the ‘excessive use of force.’ British Foreign Secretary William Hague said: ‘I call on the Egyptian authorities to respect the right of peaceful protest, to cease the use of violence against protesters, including live fire, and to hold to account those responsible.’

‘Without a clear condemnation of the killings, we send the message that even more repressive measures may be taken against the demonstrators.

‘The clearest indicator of our nation’s revulsion at the killings would be to suspend all American military aid until the violence stops and democratic freedoms are restored.’

Western media generally identified those killed as either “Islamist” or “pro Muslim Brotherhood” demonstrators.

The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) describes itself as “a grassroots civil rights and advocacy group and as “America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group.” CAIR was founded in 1994 by three officers of the Islamic Association of Palestine, part of the U.S. Hamas infrastructure at that time. Documents discovered in the course of the the terrorism trial of the Holy Land Foundation confirmed that the founders and current leaders of CAIR were part of the Palestine Committee of the Muslim Brotherhood and that CAIR itself is part of the US. Muslim Brotherhood. In 2008, the then Deputy leader of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood acknowledged a relationship between the Egyptian Brotherhood and CAIR. In 2009, a US federal judge ruled “The Government has produced ample evidence to establish the associations of CAIR, ISNA and NAIT with HLF, the Islamic Association for Palestine (“IAP”), and with Hamas.” CAIR and its leaders have had a long history of defending individuals accused of terrorism by the US. government, often labeling such prosecutions a “War on Islam”, and have also been associated with Islamic fundamentalism and antisemitism. The organization is led by Nihad Awad, its longstanding Executive Director and one of the three original founders.